Every now and again your ol' pal Wanye will stumble on information while standing in line at the bottle depot. It doesn't happen often and we don't make stuff up the rest of the time like other fake named internet bloggers.* So you can trust us when we say that the Oil are jerking around Ryan Smyth and that it is another example of how the organization is effing up in so many ways.

We recently had a conversation with someone connected to the Smyth camp. And when we say had a conversation it was the farthest thing from pretending to be some puffed up Media wannabe. No we came across as a tearful Oiler fan happy to be talking to someone who knows the scoop with Smytty.

This is the second time we have had a chat with this cat. The last time ol' #94 was still an LA King. At the time we drunkenly pleaded “Smytty needs to come home. He is probably peeling from the Sun down in LA and we miss him so much” before dissolving into tears and needing to be led away.

As we were being dragged from the conversation, this person lifted our spirits to the moon when they called out “that isn’t the craziest thing you’ve ever said. He does want to return to Edmonton, not because he doesn’t like LA but because he wants to come home for the rest of his career.”

ONE YEAR LATER

Almost a year to the day we ran into them again and gushed about how happy we were that ol’ Smytty was back where he belonged in Oil City. “An then he scored all them goals and he looked so happy and then the NUUUUUUUGE was happy and Eberle already has 30 goals an then Taylor Head got his coconut stomped on an we were all so sad an then -” began our “interview.”

“You know,” the person replied good humouredly, “it’s great how happy you are to have Ryan back in the fold. He is thrilled too and honestly can’t believe the reception Oilers fans have given him. It is killing him how contract talks are going and that he doesn’t have an offer yet from the Oilers.”

INSERT OUR STUNNED SILENCE HERE

Doesn’t have an offer? How is this possible we wondered – ostensibly in our head but infact aloud continuing the most painful conversation this poor person has probably had in months. “Well when he was considering leaving LA the Flames came to the table to make a serious pitch for him. He certainly didn’t ever think too hard about going to Calgary (insert our relieved face here) and then Katz phoned him personally and said that if he came back to Edmonton it would be for the rest of his career.”

“Then at the deadline he had heard rumours the Oilers were listening to offers for him. It didn’t go very far but that plus the fact they haven’t made him an offer even though the season is winding down is upsetting for him. He just wants some stability and to stay in Edmonton for the rest of his career. It’s too bad really.”

TOO BAD DOESN'T BEGIN TO CAPTURE IT

First of all Ryan Smyth is a Saint and the best Oiler in the past 20 years hands down. Guys with his heart, devotion to the team and long term output come along once in a blue moon. His shoddy treatment by this organization disgraces us all.

We would rather the entire brass, coaching staff and front office be summarily fired and shipped out of country than for Ryan Smyth to have another moment of his unhappiness on their account.

This organization doesn't deserve Ryan Smyth and it seems convinced to prove this time and time again. Think a world class outfit like Detroit would treat it's Ryan Smyth like this? Right.

WHAT IS GOING ON?

What about all the talk we saw on the TSN that said they were in talks with Smyth? How does a franchise that has serious issues inspiring loyalty among players, a franchise with a reputation for alienating NHLers and a franchise who has already boggled the ball with Smyth once allow these things to go into the eleventh hour?

“The trade deadline is 24 days away, and so far Ales Hemsky hasn't heard anything from the Oilers regarding his future with or without the team. How is this possible? Does Steve Tambellini believe that top-six forwards grow on trees, and that it will be easy to replace Hemsky?”

“It is ridiculous that the Oilers haven't approached him with anything significant to see if he'd be willing to re-sign. Maybe they will have differing opinions on terms of a new deal, but if the Oilers don't at least approach him and his agent then they have failed big-time in trying to ensure that this team becomes competitive.”

YOU KNOW

For an organization that has made some puzzling signings in the past 24 months – Barker and the three year contracts for Belanger and Eager spring to mind – how is it that the Oilers leave cornerstone contracts like Hemsky and Smyth contracts until the 11th hour?

This front office is something else. Doesn't exactly inspire confidence in the slow painful climb out of the league basement does it? We can't wait until this abrasive group are focusing their attention on re-signing Hall, Eberle and our precious Nuge.

SIGN SMYTTY FOR HEAVEN’S SAKES TAMBO. WE KNOW YOU READ THIS**

*Confirmed E5

** He doesn’t.

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If they don't get Smyth a fair contract offer soon I can't be held responsible for the flaming cans of Smytty's favorite hair mousse (Panteen Flowing Body Mousse, natch) that may or may not be hurled in the direction of the Oilers head offices.

As much as I'd normally support any old excuse to break out the torches and pitchforks when it comes to current Oilers' management, I'm having a bit of trouble getting worked up about this one. Basically we've got hearsay from an unnamed source presenting one side of the story? I'll trust you if you say the source is impeccable, but we don't know any of the circumstances on the other side.

I'm predisposed to thinking Tambellini/Lowe is an idiot as well, but for all we know they could already be handcuffed as part of a "management replacement strategy" playing out. Maybe there are reasons nothing is getting done contract-wise that have/had nothing to do with Smyth or Hemsky.

I don't get the impression that there is going to be an issue with re-signing Smitty. I'll wait until the end of June to start panicking. He'll get a short term contract for a bit of an overpayment. He deserves it.

Seriously this kind of sh*t pisses me off. Is anyone of the Oilers office staff even qualified to the jobs they have. If tambo's only job was to answer the phones I think the guy would fail.
The team has a bad rap for a reason people and this just further demostates that. If any part fo the Oilers wonders y they can't get top talent all they need to do is look in the damn mirror because they are the problem.

As far as the negotiating proceedings and the "brinkmanship" go, I am as naive as the next guy - who has never seen or heard the back-and-forth of a multi-million dollar contract dispute.

But, I think what frustrates me about all of this - and you all too, if I could be so bold as to put words in all of your mouths - is that it takes Tambellini far too long to asses the strengths and weaknesses of his team and his players.

I mean, sometimes he impresses us (Hemsky, 2yrs-10mill) and other times he disappoints us (Sutton extension/Gilbert for Schultz), but either way the man moves by sundial. A GM's job is to asses their team and make adjustments, not wait for the calendar to force their hand. I would say the later comes awfully close to incompetency.

Slow news day or something. Ryan Smyth will be here and it does not mean the Oilers have to negotiate with him right now.

The Oilers brass were forced into taking him back. Lambo and Smyth basically said take him or you look like asses. Oilers management took him, and made him happy, and fans happy. They did a good job fixing a bad deed. So if Klowe/Tambi want to play hard on contract I don't think anyone should care. They need to sign the right contract, something like 2 years at 2.5-3, and if someone offers Ryan more, then its in his court.

Slow news day or something. Ryan Smyth will be here and it does not mean the Oilers have to negotiate with him right now.

The Oilers brass were forced into taking him back. Lambo and Smyth basically said take him or you look like asses. Oilers management took him, and made him happy, and fans happy. They did a good job fixing a bad deed. So if Klowe/Tambi want to play hard on contract I don't think anyone should care. They need to sign the right contract, something like 2 years at 2.5-3, and if someone offers Ryan more, then its in his court.

As far as the negotiating proceedings and the "brinkmanship" go, I am as naive as the next guy - who has never seen or heard the back-and-forth of a multi-million dollar contract dispute.

But, I think what frustrates me about all of this - and you all too, if I could be so bold as to put words in all of your mouths - is that it takes Tambellini far too long to asses the strengths and weaknesses of his team and his players.

I mean, sometimes he impresses us (Hemsky, 2yrs-10mill) and other times he disappoints us (Sutton extension/Gilbert for Schultz), but either way the man moves by sundial. A GM's job is to asses their team and make adjustments, not wait for the calendar to force their hand. I would say the later comes awfully close to incompetency.

In reality he isn't able to assess the strengths or weaknesses seeing how this team is going to finish in the bottom two for the third straight year and if the blue jackets didn't have the most aweful season, which with the talent they had they should have done better, they would be last again. There really has been little to no improvement on this team even with the likes of RNH, Eberle and Hall all having good seasons and those have nothing to do with Tambo other than calling the names because the scouts said so.

The pace of the game today has revealed that Smytty does have trouble keeping up with the pace at times. Not sure he's a fit at all on Hopkins left side when needed. I love Smytty as much as the rest of you guys but he does have to be prepared to accept a smaller role on this club now. Will he be satisfied with 3rd or 4th line minutes in the next year or so?

This has to be a fit for both parties going into next season. Will Ryan Smyth be satisfied with a smaller role in Edmonton, along with a 2.5'ish per yr salary. That's a significant drop from the 6.2 cap hit this season. There's bound to be trouble on this Smyth front again if he's wanting somewhere in that 3.5-4 per yr range.

I think he skates ok at 36, he just can't play 20 mins a night. Anyways with all the clutching and grabbing coming back, soon he will be able to Water-ski through the neutral zone in order to keep the miles off.

Actually, Tambo might be right to wait. If you were valuing Smyth based on his first 30 games this season, you might shell out some big bucks. If you evaluated him on his last 30 games only, you would pay very little because the offense has dried up. Giving him more games to play with a complete line up rather than an injury depleted one will help the Oilers and Smyth establish his true value, which is probably somewhere in the middle.

The Oilers would be well advised to establish a Selanne like relationship with Smyth, one where he gets a series of 1 year deals as long as he (a) wants to play and (b) shows he is still capable of playing. These are "Over 35" contracts and the Oilers need to be careful.

As long as its established that an offer is coming, and its just the amount in question, based on his full year performance, then he shouldn't be "stressed" or "upset". The guy has made some serious coin over his career and if he never made another dime from hockey he would be fine.

Time for Katz to make another call and tell Ryan to chill. The offer is coming. The Oilers just need to establish what the number should be based on a full years' worth of work.

Whats the huge hurry to sign him to an immediate contract? They have months to get it done, he wants to stay and I imagine they want him on the team. Let the season play out and start signing contracts while the rest of the league enjoys the playoffs.......I have forgotten what playoffs even are at this point.

As far as the negotiating proceedings and the "brinkmanship" go, I am as naive as the next guy - who has never seen or heard the back-and-forth of a multi-million dollar contract dispute.

But, I think what frustrates me about all of this - and you all too, if I could be so bold as to put words in all of your mouths - is that it takes Tambellini far too long to asses the strengths and weaknesses of his team and his players.

I mean, sometimes he impresses us (Hemsky, 2yrs-10mill) and other times he disappoints us (Sutton extension/Gilbert for Schultz), but either way the man moves by sundial. A GM's job is to asses their team and make adjustments, not wait for the calendar to force their hand. I would say the later comes awfully close to incompetency.

What's not to like about the Sutton extension for 1 yr? I really like the Gilbert/Schultz trade? Schultz is outplaying Gilbert stats wise to date & there's lot's to his game I like!

My feeling is if there had been a half decent return for Hemmer at the trade deadline, he's gone! The Oilers like Paajarvi & Hartikainen but need somewhere to play them. The Oilers know they need to get bigger & more aggressive & it's not Nuge, Hallsy or Ebs that are going anywhere! I also predict Gagner will be moved at the draft!

Just throwing this out there but BOB was talking on his show today about going after Parise. This seems like a great idea when I think about it. Signing Parise allows the team to put easily put Gagner into play for something back in return on the defense. If tambo could add Parise and trade gagner in a package to get a top Dman and Sign Harding this could be a very different team some next year. Still need some work in the bottom six. But if belanger has a better season and Horcoff and Smyth play bottom six I think it might be alright.

What does everyone think? Would playing with the young guns be enough to make Parise consider signing here?

It's the fact that one of the most important Oilers in franchise history feels (apparently) disappointed by something involving Oiler management of his contract.

Here's a guy that still bleeds oil, wants to be here, showed up to play, and somehow feels some negativity.

A player of that history should feel great about being an Oiler given his time with the franchise.

Do you think the Avalanche played shrewd with Joe Sakic and let feelings of negativity creep in? Not a chance.

If they want to sign Smyth in the off-season, great... then where the f*** is the disconnect between management and the player?

Sounds more to me like posturing and idiocy or Smyth would be saying (or his source anyway) "Smyth can't wait until the summer to get his contract extension."

They'll sign him, but they shouldn't be jerking him around now for any reason.

Sakic's last few contracts were 1 year deals, and mostly negotiated after season's end, I beleive.

Smyth needs to realize that, if he really wants to be any Oiler for life, that this is the best way to protect the team and the player.

Its not a lack of respect. It's about making sure the deal is fair value for both sides, and make sure the team does not get burned by an over 35 contract should Smyth's skills suddenly crater in the midst of a multi-year deal.

Again people, we aren't talking about his financial security hear. He made $42,232,013 up to the end of the 2009-10 season, and I think another $10M by the end of this season. That's $52M folks. $52M! He needs to relax.

But I'll bet that Colorado had chats with him to let him know it was coming and feeling him out long before those contracts were signed. Something like: "Hey - we want you to be here, haven't done the paperwork yet but you can rest assured we will get something to you." Just ten minutes to let the player know where he is at would probably go a long way.

I get the distinct impression that those little deft touches to make a player feel important and wanted are missing.

Silence from Management leaves interpretation wide open.

Souray, Hemsky, Smyth.

Those are some pretty big name players, and all of them have felt ignored by management (if reports are correct). It's not like it's a Patrick Thoreson or Ryan O'Marra who is complaining that he hasn't had quality communication here.

Didn't I hear on TSN near the deadline that they had talked to him about it?
Edit: to answer my own question, TSN did report at the deadline that they were in contract talks and Tambo is quoted as saying "Smyth isn't going anywhere" and "there is a contract offer on the table"